Sailing Magazine
After being the fastest boat on the water yesterday, but failing to convert that advantage into results on the scoreboard, today the Royal Natal Yacht Club came back despite making life very difficult for themselves. After several mistakes they managed to claw their way back to take consecutive victories in the two races today (Friday).
These victories rocketed them up the leader board placing them firmly in second place just a single point behind the overnight leader from Walvis Bay Yacht Club, whose team started with a disappointing fourth and finished strongly with a second after having the lead for a large part of the race.
The Aeolians Yacht Club team had a great first race start, and led at times, finishing with a good second spot. Sadly their second race was spoilt with spinnaker troubles which forced them into third place – and an overall result of fourth after four races.
The weather out there today deteriorated from great sailing conditions in the first race to blustery conditions interspersed with rain squalls and bitterly cold winds, yet the intensity of the on water competition kept competitors oblivious to all this.
But that is not the full story as there is just a single point between each of the top four boats.
This regatta is still wide open and with four possible races still to sail, the overall result is wide open with any one of four clubs in contention to lift the Lipton Cup in victory. Another two races are due each day for the final two days. The team with the biggest desire to win, and which is able to keep equipment damage and mistakes to a minimum, will undoubtedly end as the victors.
